Category: Pipe Bands

New Zealand Pipe Band Championships Attracts Record Entry – Juvenile Grade Largest in World

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Fifty-two bands will take part in next month’s New Zealand Pipe Band Championships making it the largest pipe band competition event outside of Europe. ‘Having so many bands attend the ‘Nationals’ is a testament to the hard work of teaching organisations and bands throughout the southern hemisphere,’ said RNZPBA President Iain Blakeley.  Current New Zealand Pipe Band champions are:  Mr Blakeley went on: ‘Bands from across Australia and New Zealand will…

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Editor’s Notebook: Feedback from Judges/ Pipe Band Championships/ Metro Amateurs/ Angus Recital/ U&B and Oban Festival Dates

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The points raised in our discussion on accountability of judges are important. All pipers deserve to know why, after all their hard work, they did or did not make a prize list. Senior adjudicators should be prepared to write crit sheets, even if they are reticent about writing articles. Not everyone has the required literary skill. There is also this letter from New Zealander Graeme Glass: ‘I had such a…

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UK and British Championships Confirmed and RSPBA Calendar for 2024 Season Published

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The Association has confirmed the UK Championships in Bangor, Northern Ireland in May and the British Championships in June in Forres. The UK Pipe Band Championship will be on the 18th May and the British in Grant Park, Forres, on June 8th. Both are significant events in the world of pipe bands. The UKs attract bands from across Northern Ireland, Ireland, Great Britain, and sometimes even further afield. RSPBA Chairman,…

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Juggernaut Pipe Bands – Readers Reply

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Response to the comments by David Cross earlier this week on this subject have been broadly favourable. Looking at all of the views since this subject was aired on Piping Press several weeks ago, the broad consensus is that the RSPBA needs to act. Pruning the sizes of the mega bands would be of benefit to the broader movement. We are disappointed that some readers are afraid to put their…

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Our Juggernaut Pipe Bands – Are They a Good Thing?

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The two hot topics of the pipe band winter have been the major championships and band sizes. The first is now settled with a final announcement on the forth and fifth majors expected from the RSPBA on Monday. The second continues, with PP readers to the fore as witnessed yesterday in the letter from David Cross, Northern Ireland. In response….. Eric McGaw: I agree with some things that David has…

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